Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry — President-Designate of the upcoming UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27) — met with Inger Andersen — Executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) — on Sunday to exchange visions and views on various topics of interest to both sides related to international climate action. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abu Zeid said that Shoukry congratulated Andersen on the advent of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the UNEP in 1972, praising the work of the programme and its efforts in the fields of environment and climate change. He also praised the two reports issued by the programme on adaptation to climate change and reducing emissions. Abu Zeid also pointed out that, Shoukry reviewed the vision of the Egyptian presidency of the conference on various priority issues in international climate action, expressing appreciation for the cooperation and coordination existing between the two sides, especially with regard to the preparation of the conference and the initiatives that will be announced during it. For her part, Andersen stressed the leading role played by Egypt on the African and Arab arenas in the field of clean energy uses and the fight against climate change. She also expressed the readiness of the UNEP to provide all forms of support to Egypt to ensure the success of the upcoming climate summit. Later on in the day, Shoukry also met with the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Hana Titi. According to Abu Zeid's statement, Shoukry congratulated the UN envoy on assuming her duties, pointing to the special importance that Egypt attaches to the Horn of Africa as a geostrategic extension of Egyptian national security. The meeting also touched upon many important files and issues related to the state of peace and security in the region. Furthermore, the discussions revolved around Egypt's vision and assessment of the situation in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the security of the Red Sea, in addition to the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and how to express African interests during the upcoming COP27. For her part, Titi was keen to get acquainted with the Egyptian FM's vision towards ways to resolve political crises in the region, noting that Egypt has extensive experience in supporting peace and stability in Africa and the objectives of the UN. In this context, Abu Zeid said that the FM gave an extensive presentation on Egypt's efforts to support its brothers in Sudan and South Sudan to face political, security, and economic challenges, as well as its role in supporting Somali and South Sudanese cadres in various fields. The minister also reiterated Egypt's firm position on the need to reach a comprehensive agreement on the GERD as soon as possible, given that the persistence of the current situation represents an element of instability that threatens the interests of the peoples of the region not only now but for future generations.
